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Monday, 12 August 2013

From Bush to Basket

I finished Thursday's post with a picture of two baskets woven by our friend, Raşit. While I was in Greece, he'd kindly brought over a large supply of fresh vegetables from his garden to make sure my husband wasn't starving in my absence and over a tea or two, Teo and he had perused some art and craft catalogues to get ideas for basket designs. He'd just made these two out of fresh olive branches and wanted our opinion. Explaining the concept of "less is more" we got him to agree to ditch the plastic beads and I was keen for him to describe the weaving process. Now I am back in the land of "no problem - everything is possible", I shouldn't have been surprised when Raşit said he would be at our house in the morning to show me how it is done.

By the time we surfaced the next day, Raşit was installed on our terrace having collected his raw material and stripped it of leaves. I just had time to throw on some clothes and grab my camera to record the first incisions.

It soon became obvious that two hands are not sufficient for the initial stages and at least one foot has to join in.

Jake couldn't believe his eyes as visitors don't usually turn up with an armful of sticks. Luckily for our basket, he was content with stealing just two.

I had to be content with watching and taking photos as having a go myself wasn't an option but as the basket took shape I was already imagining myself weaving garden chairs, bird cages, trellis work and and plant holders.

I can't wait to get started on my own baskets but as I'm off to Greece again on Wednesday, I'll have to be patient until September.

In less than 3 hours, this bush was converted to this fruit bowl which is sitting proud on my dining table.

That is gorgeous! Like Annie I love baskets and have often brought them back from Mediterranean countries as holiday souvenirs. How marvellous to try making your own, though i bet they take much strength and manual dexterity as well as tough skin to handle those sticks.

About Me

In early 1982 I boarded a Turkish Kibris flight to Izmir - my destination was a 29 foot sloop in Bodrum's new marina. At 22, my belongings fitted into a worse for wear sailing holdall. In 2012 I made a similar journey from Heathrow to Bodrum. Thirty years have passed and Bodrum has changed. There are plenty of very good blogs detailing the ex-pat journey through modern Turkey. The aim of this one is to catch sight of past Turkey through my experience of re-settling in modern Bodrum.